Advisory Board on Family Law: Annual Report

Lord Hughes of Woodside: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Board on Family Law intends to publish its third annual report.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: The Advisory Board on Family Law has today published its third annual report and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Chester: New County Court House

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they propose to proceed with the building of a new county court house at Chester on the site of the Roman amphitheatre and have appropriate planning consents to do so.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: The site is owned by a developer David MacLean Developments Ltd, with whom the Court Service entered into a legally binding contract on 20 December 1999 under which the Court Service is legally bound to occupy the building within 21 days of the completion of its construction, Following demolition of the British Telecommunications building which occupied the same footprint as the new building, David MacLean Developments Ltd funded an intensive series of archaeological excavations in consultation with the City Archaeologist and English Heritage. These excavations impacted upon the design of the building and as a result it has been possible to avoid disturbing the remains of the amphitheatre beneath. In fact, the foundations of the new building have been carefully designed to avoid any remains and to preserve them in situ, for posterity. The Court Service was aware of the location of the site and of its archaeological significance, but all appropriate approvals in relation to both planning and preservation had been obtained by the developers.

Passport Agency Quinquennial Review

Lord Hogg of Cumbernauld: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the report on the United Kingdom Passport Agency Quinquennial Review.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: My right honourable friend the Home Secretary has today published the United Kingdom Passport Agency Quinquennial Review Report and copies have been placed in the Library.

Human Rights Act 1998: Statements of Compatibility

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will in practice consult the Law Officers before making statements of compatibility under Section 19 of the Human Rights Act 1998; and, if not, why not.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Ministers making Section 19 statements will do so in the light of the legal advice they have received. That advice may, in appropriate cases, come from the Law Officers. However, by long-standing convention, adhered to by successive Governments, neither the fact that the Law Officers have been consulted on a particular issue, nor the substance of any advice they have given on that issue, is disclosed outside government other than in exceptional circumstances.

EU Tobacco Hectarages and Subsidy Payments

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will give, for the last year for which figures are available, the hectarage of tobacco grown in each country of the European Union and the amount of subsidy paid from the Common Agricultural Policy.

Baroness Hayman: The hectarage of tobacco grown in each country of the EU attracting subsidy is given in the table. Nineteen ninety-eight is the last year for which figures are available.
	
		Area of Production of tobacco (including seedlings enclosures)
		
			  1998 
			 Belgium 377 
			 Germany 3,522 
			 Greece 62,080 
			 Spain 16,589 
			 France 9,057 
			 Italy 48,239 
			 Austria 102 
			 Portugal 2,595 
		
	
	The amount of subsidy paid from the CAP in 1998 was 870 million ECU(1) (£584 million using an exchange rate of £1=1.4887 ECU(2)).
	(1) Source: EAGGF Guarantee Annual Reports
	(2) Exchange rate: Feoga Financial Report 1998.

Illegal Fishing: Prevention

Lord Mason of Barnsley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What further measures have been introduced since the establishment of the Environment Agency to curb illegal fishing; and with what success.

Baroness Hayman: No specific legislation has been introduced during this period. However, by-laws introduced in April 1999 to protect spring-running salmon effectively make it illegal to kill a wild salmon anywhere in England and Wales before 1 June each year.
	The table below shows the numbers of reports of (a) illegal fishing and (b) handling salmon in suspicious circumstances.
	
		
			 Year No. of reports of illegal fishing No. of reports of handling salmon in suspicious circumstances 
			 1996-97 1,524 74 
			 1997-98 1,310 75 
			 1998-99 1,397 87 
			 1999-2000 1,210 71

Departmental Cars

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 8 June (WA 173), what types and makes of car are used by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food.

Baroness Hayman: Staff have a range of options when undertaking official travel by car. These include using (i) their own vehicle (ii) hire cars, (iii) official pool vehicles and (iv) cars in the Ministry's Private Use Scheme. Details of the type and make of cars used under (i) and (ii) are not held centrally and can only be obtained by incurring disproportionate costs. A table detailing the make and type of cars used by the Ministry and agencies under (iii) and (iv) is attached.
	
		Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Agencies Breakdown of Official Vehicles
		
			 Manufacturer Type 
			 Bedford Astramax 
			 Citroen C15 
			  C25 
			  Reflex 
			  V15 
			  Xantia 
			 Fiat Marea 
			  Tempra 
			 Ford Escort 
			  Fiesta 
			  Focus 
			  Galaxy 
			  Mondeo 
			  Sierra 
			  Transit 
			  
			 Honda Civic 
			 Nissan Pickup 
			  Primera 
			  Terrano 
			  Vanette 
			 Peugeot 306 
			  309 
			  406 
			  Expert 
			 Renault Laguna 
			  Megane 
			 Rover 420 
			  620 
			  Defender 
			  Discovery 
			  Land Rover 110 
			 Saab 900 
			 Subaru Forester 
			  Legacy 
			 Toyota Hi-Lux 
			 Vauxhall Astra 
			  Cavalier 
			  Corsa 
			  Frontera 
			  Midi Van 
			  Movano 
			  Nova 
			  Sintra 
			  Vectra 
			 Volkswagen Golf 
			  Passat 
			  Transporter

Departmental Cars

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 21 June, what number of cars of each make and type are used by the Department of Trade and Industry.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The numbers, makes and models are as follows:
	
		
			   
			 Rover Sterling 1 
			 Rover 400 1 
			 Ford Mondeo 2 
			 Ford Escort 13 
			 Vauxhall Astra 1 
			 Vauxhall Vectra 3 
			 Nissan Primera 1 
			 Fiat Cinquecento 1 
			 Fiat Brava 1 
			 Peugot 206 1 
			 Citroen Xantia 1

Research Council, 15 June

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the outcome of the Research Council held in Luxembourg on 15 June.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: I am pleased to report that the Council of 15 June:
	1. Debated the future of the Information and Knowledge Society, underlining the importance of research policy, social inclusiveness and the interconnection of high speed electronic research networks.
	2. Adopted a resolution on establishing a European area of research and innovation.
	3. Adopted presidency conclusions concerning funding for life science infrastructures.
	4. Received information from the Commission on progress on the joint ESA-EU strategy for space, and from the presidency and Commission on international co-operation.
	5. Under Other Business, the Council received information from the presidency on discussions regarding marine science, and heard an intervention from Germany on the question of authorisation procedures for the release of genetically modified organisms.
	The Council also discussed the future of fusion research spending.

Late Payment of Commercial Debt

Lord Harrison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In the light of the recent NatWest quarterly survey of small firms showing that few small and medium-sized enterprises have taken advantage of the statutory right of interest on late payments of commercial debt, how the relevant legislation can be improved or better implemented.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The NatWest Quarterly Survey indicated that the proportion of small businesses that say late payment is a problem continues to fall--from 45.1 per cent in October 1997 survey to 36.7 per cent. The findings of this survey suggested that there may well be a potential to increase usage of the legislation by publicising more widely its ease of use. We intend to work with our partners on the Better Payment Practice Group to spread this message across the small business community.
	We recognise that we are still at an early stage and the UK has some way to go before we meet the example set by countries such as Sweden and Denmark. However, progress made since the introduction of the legislation and the Better Payment Practice Campaign in 1998 has been encouraging. Recent research published in the Grant Thornton European Business Survey confirms that the average payment period for sales invoices in the UK now stands at 45 days against an EU average of 54 days. The survey also confirms a continuing downward trend in UK payment times.

Late Payment of Commercial Debt

Lord Harrison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In the light of the recent survey performed by Experian which suggests that average payment periods on commercial debt have extended from 59 to 62 days, how small and medium-sized enterprises might be helped to overcome this additional burden on their survival and growth.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The data published by Experian draw on the sales ledger information of many different companies and report the number of days the subject company takes to pay its invoices. One very good reason for apparently lengthy payment periods among some companies is that many agree terms of 60 or more days. Seemingly slow payers could therefore, actually, be paying within the terms agreed with their suppliers.
	The Government are, however, commited to improving the payment culture of the UK and have introduced a range of measures to help businesses tackle the problem of late payment of commercial debt, including the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998. In addition, the Government support the recently approved EC directive on combating late payment in commercial transactions and propose to consult the businesss community during transposition.
	We recognise, however, that legislation is one part of a package of measures introduced to improve payment practices in the UK and will continue to work in partnership with the business community, through the Better Payment Practice Group (BPPG), to help businesses benefit from the increased opportunities that a healthy cash flow can bring.

New Deal Start-ups

Lord Mason of Barnsley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Under the New Deal for Young People, how many young people have opted for (a) training and (b) self employment, giving figures separately for England and South Yorkshire.

Baroness Blackstone: To the end of March 2000, the number of young people who have started on New Deal Options, all of which have a training element, and those that have started self employment is shown as follows:
	
		
			  Option Starts Self Employment 
			 England 131,440 2,170 
			 South Yorkshire 16,220 245

School ICT Funding and Language Laboratories

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a school with good Information Communication Technology (ICT) facilities but with a need for language laboratories is entitled to spend a Government grant for ICT facilities on language laboratories instead.

Baroness Blackstone: It depends on the condition of the grant, but normally if the grant is for ICT then the expenditure should be confined to ICT. However, if, for example, a school was to use an ICT grant to put ICT facilities into a language laboratory and were then to use that laboratory to teach a range of subjects, we would regard that as being a reasonable use of such funding.

Learning and Skills Councils: Funding of Objective 3 Activities

Lord Smith of Leigh: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they intend to allocate European Objective 3 funds to individual Learning and Skills Councils.

Baroness Blackstone: We intend to involve the Learning and Skills Council in the delivery of European Social Fund (ESF) Objective 3 activities, subject to the passage of the Learning and Skills Bill. Our aim is to move to a co-financing approach to improve the targeting and simplify the delivery of this element of ESF. The detailed implementation arrangements have yet to be finalised, and are subject to consultation, but the intention is that local Learning and Skills Councils will apply to the Objective 3 Regional Committees for the allocations in respect of learning and skills activities in their areas. The local councils would then contract with providers to deliver specified activities which met the objectives of the LSC and the Objective 3 Regional Development Plan. The local councils would allocate to those providers both ESF funds and any LSC funds needed to match them.

New Deal Participants: Sanctions

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Blackstone (WA 136) that "there is evidence that those who are sanctioned subsequently comply with the responsibilities they have as New Deal participants", what is the nature of that evidence, what points it demonstrates, and where it is to be found.

Baroness Blackstone: The vast majority of young people sanctioned for not attending New Deal options as required are only sanctioned on one occasion. We take that to be evidence that those participants who are sanctioned subsequently comply with their responsibilities.

Welfare: Rights and Responsibilities

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the remark by the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in a speech to the Institute for Public Policy Research on 7 June that "in return for measures which increase people's security, it is right to insist on strict enforcement of the responsibilities which people have in return for benefit", whether they will provide a comprehensive list of what they believe those responsibilities are.

Baroness Blackstone: The remark was made in the context of jobseeker's allowance (JSA), which is an active benefit. The three labour market conditions of entitlement for JSA are that jobseekers must be available for work, must seek work actively each week, and must enter into a jobseeker's agreement setting out the type of work they are looking for and the steps they intend to take in order to find it. In addition, jobseekers are liable to a benefit sanction if they cause or prolong their own unemployment through certain acts or omissions which they could reasonably have avoided.
	Certain jobseekers have other specific obligations: for example, the New Deal for Young People offers high quality help and support to young people who have been unemployed for more than six months. In return, participants are expected to find work or to take up one of the four options offered. There is no option of remaining on benefit without participation.

South Downs: Expenditure Plans

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What additional funding has been sought by the Countryside Agency for a new restoration initiative to restore open downland and provide access to it in the South Downs; whether such funding includes a number of mechanisms which would allow the Countryside Agency, or another body, to purchase targeted land on the open market; and whether they can confirm that £60 million has been allocated to the Countryside Agency or other bodies for the purpose of restoration work in the South Downs.

Lord Whitty: We are considering Countryside Agency expenditure plans from 2001-02 to 2003-04 as part of the Spending Review 2000. Decisions about future funding will be taken following the announcement by Her Majesty's Treasury of the overall settlement for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which is expected in July. Details of the Spending Review are not disclosed until finally announced.

Chinook Helicopter Accident

Lord Chalfont: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Chinook Mark 2 had a complete set of Flight Reference Cards at the time of the fatal crash of ZD576 in June 1994; and if so, whether they included drills covering the possibility of Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC) malfunctions.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Chinook Mk2 had a complete set of Flight Reference Cards in June 1994. These contained all the normal and emergency operating drills in force at that time, including drills for a possible FADEC malfunction.

Military Wrecks

Lord Onslow of Woking: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What applications have been received for the designation of the wreck of a military vessel in United Kingdom waters under the provisions of the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My department has received two applications for designation of military wrecks that lie in UK territorial waters under the provisions of the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.
	They relate to HMS "Royal Oak" and the Submarine H5.

Military Wrecks

Lord Onslow of Woking: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they intend to take to protect the sites of military wrecks in United Kingdom waters where these are known or believed to contain the remains of crew or passengers of the vessel concerned.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Ministry of Defence, together with other government departments, has been assisting with diving associations' plans for self regulation through the development of a code of practice for diving on wrecks.
	The aim of the code is to re-educate divers to adopt best practices when diving on all wrecks. Current training and other publications issued by the diving organisations will be reviewed to take account of the legal and moral responsibilities of those who dive on wrecks. In addition, a new wreck law course is being piloted. Information on "respecting our wrecks" already appears on the diving associations' web sites.
	Mechanisms for enforcement of the code of practice and other initiatives, which could result in expulsion from an organisation, are already in place in the associations' constitutions. Any member behaving in a way calculated to be prejudicial to the interests of the club could be expelled. The diving organisations are fully committed to changing the way a small minority abuse the wrecks they dive on.
	It is expected that this code will be introduced by the diving associations shortly. The Government will assess compliance with the code and review policy accordingly in the light of subsequent developments.

Assisted Area Status, Scotland

The Earl of Mar and Kellie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will give urgent consideration to the re-inclusion of Carsebridge, Alloa, as an Assisted Area for Regional Selective Assistance.

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale: Careful consideration has been given to the Assisted Area map for the whole of Scotland and the Government have listened carefully to all representations that have been made. The European Commission raised a number of concerns that required changes to the original proposal. The most recent proposal, published on 10 April 2000, gives Scotland a population coverage of 48 per cent, down by only 1 per cent from the original proposal. I am sure that the final outcome will be good for Scotland.

House Prices

Lord Jacobs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What would be the current underlying rate of inflation if the depreciation of owner occupied houses which has been a component of the retail price index since 1995 had never been introduced; and
	By what annual rate the average price of owner occupied homes has depreciated or appreciated since 1995.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter to Lord Jacobs from the National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales, Office for National Statistics, Mr Len Cook, dated 28 June 2000.
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary Questions HL2899 and HL2900. HL2899 asks for the current underlying rate of inflation if the depreciation component had not been introduced in 1995. HL2900 asks by what annual rate the average price of owner occupied homes has depreciated or appreciated since 1995.
	In response to Question HL2899, the underlying rate of inflation is taken to mean the Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments (RPIX). If the depreciation component of RPIX were removed, the percentage change over the latest 12-month period (to May 2000) would be 1.6 per cent. This figure is published every month in Table 2 of the Consumer Price Indices First Release and can be downloaded for free from timezone on the National Statistics website at www.statistics.gov.uk.
	In response to Question HL2900, a table has been attached showing the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) house price index for the UK. The rise in house prices demonstrated by this index should not be confused with the depreciation calculation used in the RPI. The depreciation component of the RPI represents the notional amount needed to be put aside to keep a property in a constant state of repair and at a constant level of quality. It covers large infrequent renovations required to make good deterioration and obsolescence to owner-occupied housing. It does not include routine repairs and maintenance, as these are already covered elsewhere in the index.
	
		DETR house price index for the UK (1993=100)
		
			 Year Index Percentage change over one year 
			 1995 103.2 0.7 
			 1996 106.9 3.6 
			 1997 116.9 9.4 
			 1998 129.7 10.9 
			 1999 144.6 11.5

Pensions: Over-eighties Addition

Baroness Jeger: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the age addition of 25 pence which was awarded to the over-eighties in 1971 remains at 25 pence; and what is now the comparative purchasing power of that 25 pence.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: Since it was introduced, no government have increased age addition on the basic state pension that is paid to those aged 80 or over.
	Our priority is to help the poorest pensioners and to help all pensioner households. That is why we have introduced a comprehensive strategy to tackle pensioner poverty. We have introduced the minimum income guarantee, winter fuel payments, reduced VAT on fuel, restored free eye test, allocated extra money to improve cataract services and cardiac care, and reduced income tax. We have also introduced the home energy efficiency scheme and will be providing free TV licences for the over 75s, concessionary bus fares, pensioner credit and doubling the capital limits in minimum income guarantee.
	We are spending an extra £6.5 billion on pensioner incomes in this Parliament.
	The comparative purchasing power of £0.25p in May 1971 is £0.029p in May 2000. Notes: (1) The Retail Prices Index (all items) has been used, as published by the Office for National Statistics. (2) Figures are unrounded.